The World of Outlaws (WoO) Craftsman Sprint Car Series has announced that all 88 events will feature live streaming video to the public in 2018.

DIRTVision.com, which has provided live audio of every World of Outlaws race since 2005 and live streaming of select events, will expand its offering in 2018 to include each and every WoO-sanctioned sprint car events.

DIRTVision pioneered live dirt track video streaming in 2004 with the ultimate goal of streaming content on a nightly basis.

“When DIRTVision originally launched, live video streaming was almost unheard of,” WoO Director of Broadcast Brian Dunlap said. “We have continued to push the envelope of new technologies with this goal in mind. It’s great to have the opportunity to bring DIRTVision full circle and provide fans the ability to watch The Greatest Show on Dirt every night live from coast to coast."

DIRTVision will kick off the 2018 season at DIRTcar Nationals with live video coverage of the 12 consecutive nights of racing at Volusia Speedway Park. Sprint car fans can purchase the entire first week (Sprint week) at DIRTVision.com for $79.99. Further information about subscription packages will be available soon.

INDYCAR has announced lead engineer Darren Sansum as its new managing director of engine development.

Sansum joins INDYCAR after a successful stint at Toyota Racing Development, which has won the past two manufacturer championships in NASCAR’s Cup series.

Sansum has also worked for Ford Motor Company, Cosworth Technology and Ilmor Engineering. At INDYCAR, Sansum will oversee engine development and competition between Honda and Chevrolet in the Verizon IndyCar Series effective Feb. 6.

“Darren is someone we targeted early on in the hiring process,” said Jay Frye, INDYCAR’s president of competition and operations. “There is a lot happening within INDYCAR’s engine program, both current and future projects. Darren’s background makes him a perfect fit to lead our engine program today and into the future.”

In addition to supervising INDYCAR’s current engine regulations, Sansum will play a key role in developing the next generation of engine regulations for the Verizon IndyCar Series. A critical parameter in creating the next engine package will be making it attractive to new manufacturers, says INDYCAR.

“INDYCAR is going in a good direction, and I’d like to help further develop that and continue going in that direction,” Sansum said. “The competition’s very close between Honda and Chevrolet at the moment. I’d like to contribute to the evolution in this direction with the ultimate goal of adding manufacturers into the sport.”

The 17-race Verizon IndyCar Series season begins with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 11. Teams will participate in an open test at ISM Raceway (formerly Phoenix Raceway) from Feb. 8–10.

NASCAR has announced key leadership appointments across its growing international business landscape and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
 
Jim Cassidy has been named to the new leadership position of chief international officer, reporting to Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer Steve O’Donnell. Charged with growing the NASCAR brand of racing internationally, Cassidy will oversee all international competition and commercial operations, including NASCAR’s three international series: the NASCAR Pinty’s Series in Canada, NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series and NASCAR Whelen Euro Series.

“Jim brings nearly two decades of racing operations and industry leadership experience. He has worked tirelessly to grow our existing motorsports properties outside of the US and will lead our efforts to identify important growth opportunities internationally for our sport and its growing fan base,” said O’Donnell.
 
Joining Cassidy will be Chad Seigler in the new position of vice president of International Business Development. Seigler will oversee all international sales and partnership marketing. International Senior Director Celeste Griffin-Churchill, International Competition Director Joe Balash and International & Weekly/Touring Business Development Senior Director Bob Duvall will also play key roles in this area.
 
NASCAR additionally announced that Ben Kennedy has been named to the leadership position of general manager of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Kennedy will oversee all aspects of the series, working closely with NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Managing Director Brad Moran and Managing Director of Series Marketing Jeff Wohlschlaeger. Kennedy will report to Vice President of Competition Elton Sawyer and will also work closely with O’Donnell and Executive Vice President and Chief Global Sales and Marketing Officer Steve Phelps.

Mahr Inc. has announced that Lara Rapport has joined the company as a quality manager. In her new role, Rapport will focus on improving processes through customer feedback, ensuring ISO compliance, management of the ISO auditing system and more.
 
Rapport is a certified ISO 9001:2015 lead auditor with more than 20 years of experience in manufacturing and quality management. She has expertise in ISO 9000, lean manufacturing, facility energy management, program management and the quality disciplines of Six Sigma, FMEA, PPAP, auditing and CAPA problem-solving. Rapport has a BS in Industrial Engineering from Northeastern University and an MBA in Global Business from Northeastern University.
 
In addition, Mahr has also recently promoted two employees.

Anthony Clang, who joined the organization in 2003, has been promoted to the position of laboratory technical manager and will now oversee both of Mahr’s calibration labs. Clang’s previous work on Mahr’s ISO17025 NVLAP accreditation were said to be vital to the organization’s efforts.

Dave Perron, who has 18 years of industry experience, has been promoted to manufacturing engineering supervisor and will now be responsible for leading that department.

Wagler Competition Products, known for its diesel performance parts, has taken its research and development program “to the next level” by opening Wagler Motorsports Park (WMP) in Lyons, Indiana.

Jeremy Wagler, the owner of Wagler Competition Products, has converted the former Lyons Raceway Park into a private motorsports testing facility. The 1/8-mile dragstrip was closed in July 2016.

Built in 1996, the current facility received the NHRA North Central Division "Track of the Year" awards in 2010, 2011 and 2012. Wagler plans to expand with the addition of a sled-pulling track and a professional dyno-tuning facility by the name of Critical Calibration, Inc. (CCi).

CCi will allow for initial dyno results to be tested in a real-world environment on the strip. CCi will also become the headquarters of Critical Mass Motorsports (CMM), the Wagler/EZ LYNK partnership that campaigns the diesel-powered Pro Mod 1937 Chevy known as the “Screwed Coupe.”

Wagler Competition Products intends to use the venue for automotive industry manufacturers to come together and share data. The manufacturer works closely with many companies including EZ LYNK, S&S Diesel Motorsport, PSI Superchargers, Callies Performance Products, Comp Cams, and RideTech.

WMP has enlisted track prep specialist Kurt Johnson of Total Venue Concepts. Just one and a half hours from Indianapolis International Airport and 10 miles off Interstate 69 in rural Southern Indiana, WMP is set for race and pulling teams to test conveniently and discretely. While the race track will not be open to the public every weekend, WMP will host the following special events in 2018:
 
·   Team 260 Neglection No Prep, May 18–20
·   Wagler Diesel Competition, June 8–9
·   No Box Nationals, June 14–17
·   Southeast Gassers Association, July 28

For track rental inquiries, contact track@waglercompetition.com.

The ABB FIA Formula E Championship has announced the next-generation, all-electric car.

Set to be officially unveiled March 6, 2018, at the Geneva International Motor Show, the car will make its competitive debut in the 2018/19 season of the series and is designed to be used for the next three seasons.

With almost double the energy storage capacity and double the range of the current car, the Gen2 will enable the teams and drivers to complete a full race at higher speeds without making a mid-race car swap.

“This car represents the future of racing," said Formula E Founder and CEO Alejandro Agag. "When we started Formula E, our goal was to break the mold and challenge the status quo—bringing a revolution to motorsport. This next generation car represents that revolution."

The Gen2 Formula E car is the first vehicle to have been designed by the FIA, the governing body of the Formula E. Drafted by leading designers from around the world, the car represents a seismic shift for the series with the design setting it apart from any other motorsport series, according to Formula E.

"I’m very proud that the FIA has been at the forefront of this car’s development, it’s something new for the Federation, and the project has been a huge success," said the organization's President Jean Todt.

The Hot Rodders of Tomorrow (HROT) will be holding contests for the High School and Junior Engine Challenges during the Super Summit Car Show at the Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, on June 8–9, 2018.

Last year’s Super Summit featured cruise-ins, fun-runs, an autocross course, a cackle fest with cars of the Great Lakes Nostalgia Funny Car Circuit, a manufacturers’ midway and multiple car-crushing performances by Larry Swim and his Bigfoot Monster Truck.

“Summit Racing is excited to announce our partnership with Hot Rodders of Tomorrow,” said Jim Greenleaf, Summit Racing’s Motorsports Manager. “Getting involved with these future automotive enthusiasts builds on our current youth programs including the Summit Racing Car Show Pedal Car Challenge and the NHRA Jr Drag Racing League.”

The HROT now has 14 qualifying events for its High School Engine Challenge scheduled throughout the nation for the 2018 season, with the season concluding at the Dual Championship in November and December at the SEMA and PRI Shows.

The HROT High School Engine Challenge is a program that benefits schools, students and the automotive aftermarket industry by providing a stage for automotive tech classes to compete and earn college scholarships. Teams of five students tear down and reassemble a 350ci Chevy engine during the timed event that measures speed and accuracy.

The HROT Junior Engine Challenge was developed for kids to “get wrenches in their hands and grease under their fingernails” by taking apart and rebuilding Briggs & Stratton 5HP single-cylinder engines. A team consists of two members, and one teammate must between 5–18 years of age. The contest will help develop the youngsters problem-solving, and communication skills, as well as increase self-esteem and the understanding of a working internal combustion engine.  
 
For more information on how you can help or donate, contact Greg Parker at 574/315-1938 or gparker@hotroddersoftomorrow.org.

Midvale Speedway, a banked 3/10-mile asphalt track in Midvale, Ohio, has announced new ownership. John and Kelley Chapman have purchased the speedway from Randy Smith, who had bought the facility in 2010.

John is no stranger to the track, having co-owned and operated Mid-Vid Racing Videos film business for 27 seasons before “retiring from behind the lens” in 2016. He currently works as the superintendent of Union Cemetery in Uhrichsville, OH. Kelley is a Registered Nurse and instructor who works at Mercy Medical Center in Canton. The pair had their first date at the track back in 1980, sitting in turn four to watch the races.

The Chapmans plan to bring back a mixture of tradition and new ideas, making Midvale Speedway a year-round venue, according to Times Reporter.

Midvale Speedway was first opened by Gene, Bob and Chris Tolloty 65 years ago.

Weekly racing will commence on Saturday nights in 2018, with five weekly divisions including Outlaw Late Models, Economy Modifieds, Street Stocks, Mini Trucks and Compacts.

Special events include a Fan Appreciation Night (admissions to the grandstands for $5), Autism and Alzheimer’s Awareness Nights, Christmas in July, Kids Ride in Race Cars and more.

A complete schedule will be released mid-February. The season is currently set to kick off on Saturday, April 14.

Officials with the National Championship Racing Association (NCRA) presented by Precise Racing Products of Park City, Kansas, released the 2018 360-ci sprint car schedule at the series yearend banquet this past Saturday. The program consists of 15 races competing on seven different tracks and two new venues.

The 29th consecutive season for the series sprint car division will once again kick off at 81 Speedway in Park City with the eighth annual “Park City Cup/Air Capital Shootout” on March 30–31. Saturday night’s championship feature finale champion will take home $13,000—the highest paying winners share in the series’ 48-year history.

Later, the tour will make its first appearance in the state of Oklahoma since 2008 when they make its inaugural appearance at Southern Oklahoma Speedway in Ardmore in a combined event with the Texas-based Sprint Car Bandits on April 28.

The 62nd annual Hutchinson Grand Nationals once again appears on the schedule and is set for another two nights of racing action July 20–21.

Salina Speedway in Salina, Kansas, will host its only NCRA sprint event on Saturday night, October 6, and the season comes to a close one week later at 81 Speedway on October 13.

More information, including the complete schedule, point standings, official rules and more is on the official website at www.racencra.com and updates, as they happen, can be found on the official Facebook page "NCRA Racing Series."

Modern Racing, the new venture formed by championship-winning tuner and motorsports electronics expert Justin Elkes, announced the addition of prominent chassis builder Todd Bevis to the team.

Bevis, a native of Tyler, TX, who now resides in Mooresville, brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience gained during more than 35 years in the racing industry. After a successful stint at Jerry Haas Race Cars, Bevis eventually teamed with Victor Cagnazzi at Cagnazzi Racing, where he built and tuned winning NHRA Pro Stock chassis for the likes of Erica Enders-Stevens, Dave Connolly, and Jeg Coughlin, Jr.

“With my background as a crew chief, and as cars have been coming in the shop for wiring and other electronics, I’ve been noticing chassis-related aspects that need to be updated, repaired or improved,” Elkes continued. “Now we can provide that service in-house, with the work being performed by one of the most respected chassis builders in the industry.”

Located in Mooresville, North Carolina, Modern Racing was created with the mission to be “the best source for purchasing high-quality electronics and data acquisition components made by Racepak, MoTeC, MSD/Holley and more,” according to a release by the company.

Modern Racing also offers tuning, consulting, data acquisition analysis, wiring, fabrication, machining and entire racing operation housing and management.

While the Modern Racing website is under construction, customers are encouraged to reach the shop at 704/576-7337 and info@modernracing.net.